Chef Luciana Ambrosini & Valerio Sergiampietri

TRATTORIA ARMANDACASTELNUOVO MAGRA, LIGURIA

Sitting high above the province of La Spezia, Trattoria Armanda is located in Castelnuovo Magra, a small medieval village located on top of a hill lined with olive groves and vineyards. It is nestled neat the ancient 12th century castle and overlooks the Val di Magra which boasts such local culinary traditions as warm focaccia with rosemary, hot vegetable flans, crepes with asparagus, vegetable pies, and delicious salt cod fritters.

The regional dishes at Trattoria Armanda are prepared by Chef Luciana, who is accompanied in the kitchen by her mother-in-law. "I was still a student when I came to Trattoria Armanda to heklp my mother-in-law in the kitchen," she says. "And it was from her that I learned--first with curiosity and later with passion--all the little secrets about how to prepare simple, authentic dishes."

Luciana is not alone in her endeavors. Valerio delivers the signature dishes alongside their daughter, Julia. Valerio also serves as the restaurant's resident Sommelier, making Trattoria Armanda truly a family business.

When speaking of her desire to maintain the culinary legacy of her hometown, Chef Ambrosini ensures the use of high quality, fresh ingredients obtained from relatives, friends, and local suppliers. She and her family work hard to revive regional recipes of the past, while finding innovative ways to create new traditions for generations to come.